Tulane awakens from slumber, throttles Southern Miss behind QB Pratt, lethal running game

The lingering question was whether the second half collapse in an awful loss to Navy would linger for Tulane on Saturday afternoon at Hattiesburg.

It did…for much of one quarter. Tulane was sleep-walking its way around and fell behind Southern Miss 14-0 in less than five minutes.

Then came a turnover on a key interception by Kevaris Hall.

Then came a touchdown by Tyjae Spears to cut the deficit to 14-7. Even then, the enthusiasm was tempered as the talented redshirt freshman injured his knee and did not return.

Green Wave head coach Willie Fritz then made the move, benching a struggling Keon Howard who clearly lacked confidence.

Enter Michael Pratt.

The energy level changed visibly, clearly.

Tulane would not look back.

The Green Wave exploded, rushing for 430 yards in a dominant performance by the offensive line as the Green Wave rushed for seven touchdowns.

Cam Carroll continued to find the end zone, scoring three times.

As for Pratt, he rushed for a touchdown and he completed 8-of-18 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

He had command of the offense. He had a couple of drops, including one deep ball.

The players responded well, make that very well to Pratt. The energy level accelerated.

The defense, which struggled badly early in the game, as it had in the second half against Navy, awakened and played well the rest of the way.

Granted, Southern Miss is a bad team, in disarray, undergoing a coaching change after just one game. The defense came up with two turnovers. USM had 163 yards in its first two drives and only 210 the rest of the way.

For those who felt Tulane’s Belk Bowl win over USM was a fluke, what do you think now?

In that one, the Golden Eagles started fast, taking a 13-0 lead before Tulane awakened and scored the final 30 points.

Pratt will be the starting quarterback next week and he should be. It was good to see Justin Ibieta get some playing time as well.

Of course, you have to feel bad for Howard.

He is a good young man who has worked hard but he is the same player who got beat out by Jack Abraham at Southern Miss, whom Tulane has now beaten soundly twice in a row.

One can only wonder what if? What if Fritz had changed quarterbacks in the second half against Navy?

Now comes a shortened bye week and a real test at Houston on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Cougars will be looking for revenge after last year’s last-second 38-31 win by Tulane in New Orleans, also on a Thursday night.

Who knows what to expect?

Houston has not played due to postponements or cancellations due to COVID-19 complications.

Still, the team with the new quarterback, a new lease on life, and the game experience should have a good shot at winning a key conference contest after blowing one previously.

TULANE TEAM NOTES
• With the win over Southern Miss, Tulane earned back-to-back wins over the Golden Eagles for the first time since the 1983-84 seasons.
• Tulane fell behind 14-0 with 10:31 to go in the first quarter, but the Green Wave would respond in a big way, as it outscored Southern Miss 66-10 for the remainder of the game.
• Tulane outgained Southern Miss 572-369. In the second half, Tulane outgained the Golden Eagles 330-59 and limited Southern Miss to just six first downs.
• Tulane’s 66 points were tied for the most in the Willie Fritz era (since 2016). The Green Wave’s 66-point outburst marked the third time the Green Wave have scored 60-or-more points since 2016.
• Prior to Fritz’s arrival in 2016, Tulane had not scored 60-or-more points since 1998.
• The Green Wave won their second straight road game. Tulane has not won its first two road games to start a season since 1998.
• With the win, Fritz improved to 218-102-1 all-time.
• With the win, Fritz improved to 20-5 all-time after suffering his first loss to a season.
• Since arriving at Tulane, Fritz’s teams have scored 40-or-more points 13 times. Tulane owns a 13-0 mark in those contests.
• Tulane faced Southern Miss for the 32nd time. The Green Wave improved to 9-23 all-time against the Golden Eagles.
• Team captains for today’s game were DB Jaylon Monroe, LB Kevin Henry, OL Jaylen Miller, OL Ben Knutson and WR Mykel Jones.
• Senior Stephon Huderson carried the No. 18 flag in honor of Devon Walker.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Green Wave offensive starters were QB Keon Howard, RB Tyjae Spears, TE Tyrick James, WR Phat Watts, WR Jacob Robertson Jr., WR Duece Watts, OL Sincere Haynesworth, OL Josh Remetich, OL Corey Dublin, OL Trey Tuggle and OL Joey Claybrook.
• Redshirt sophomore Cameron Carroll scored a career high four touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving). Carroll has now scored eight total touchdowns on the year (seven rushing and one receiving). Carroll has scored no fewer than two touchdowns in every game this year.
• Carroll also dashed for a career-high 163 yards on the ground.
• Senior running back Stephon Huderson rushed for a career-high 120 yards on just 11 carries. He also scored a touchdown.
• True freshman quarterback Michael Pratt came on in relief of Keon Howard in the first half. He would go on to pass for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown.
• Spears rushed for a career-high two rushing touchdowns.
• Running back Amare Jones finished with a team-high three receptions yards. He finished the game with 196 all-purpose yards.
• Dublin made his 41st straight start. He has never missed a start in his collegiate career.
• The Green Wave have now surpassed 100 yards rushing in 56 straight games.
• Tulane finished with 430 yards rushing and have now rushed for over 250 yards in nine of their last 18 games. Tulane surpassed 400 yards rushing for the first time since its 488-yard outburst at home against Tulsa on Oct. 7, 2017.
• The Green Wave have also surpassed 200 yards rushing in 12 of their last 16 games dating back to the start of the 2019 season.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The Green Wave defensive starters were DL Patrick Johnson, DL De’Andre Williams, DL Cameron Sample, DL Jeffery Johnson, LB Kevin Henry, LB Marvin Moody, DB Ajani Kerr, CB Jaylon Monroe, CB Kyle Meyers, S Macon Clark and S Chase Kuerschen.
• As a team, Tulane had 12 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
• Sophomore linebacker Dorian Williams and senior linebacker Marvin Moody led the way for the Green Wave with 9.0 tackles.
• Williams’ 9.0 tackles were a career high.
• Senior defensive lineman Patrick Johnson and junior defensive lineman Jeffery Johnson each tallied 1.5 sacks. Patrick Johnson now has 18.0 career sacks which ranks fourth all-time.
• Senior defensive linemen Cameron Sample also tallied a sack.
• Freshman Kevaris Hall recorded his first career interception in the first half which set up the Green Wave’s first touchdown of the game.
• Tulane’s defensive unit held Southern Miss to just 59 total yards in the second half.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt senior Merek Glover connected on a 41-yard field goal in the first half. Glover has now made 33 career field goals which ranks eighth all-time.
• Glover was a perfect 9-for-9 in extra points.
• Glover finished the day with 12 points kicking. He now has scored 236 points kicking which ranks fourth all-time.
• Junior returner Amare Jones totaled 133 kickoff return yards. He also had a kickoff return of 62 yards.